Nanocarrier-Assisted Laser-Driven Photodynamic/Chemo Therapy for Breast Cancer: A Narrative Review
Open Access
- 30 September 2026
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Maad Rayan Publishing Company in Journal of lasers in medical sciences
- Vol. 17, e51547
Abstract
Introduction: Efficacy of conjugated photodynamic therapy (PDT)/chemotherapy in the treatment of breast cancer is summarized in this review. Alternative chemo drugs (CDs) and photosensitizers (PSs) are irradiated with lasers at various wavelengths to verify the toxicity of photo-stimulated compounds. Methods: The conducted studies on conjugated photodynamic and chemotherapy treatment of breast cancer across three phases (in vitro, in vivo and clinical) from 2014 to 2025 are summarized in this review. Articles on laser-activated therapies are evaluated, and irrelevant studies have been omitted. The records are sorted based on CD/PS typ laser irradiation wavelength, and energy. Results: Synergic PDT+chemotherapy is a promising method for breast cancer treatment according to in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies. Nevertheless, the clinical translation of the conjugated approach still meets unresolved issues, including long-term safety, limited selectivity, and biodistribution challenges. Conclusion: The hybrid treatment exhibits superior advantages in tumor shrinkage, high selectivity, inhibition of malignant cells, overcoming drug resistance, and metastasis control. Furthermore, the conjugate treatments mitigate the side effects of high-dosage chemotherapy.Keywords
This publication has 53 references indexed in Scilit:
- Advances in photodynamic therapy and its combination strategies for breast cancerActa Biomaterialia, 2025
- Small molecular chelator for comprehensive regulation of tumor lactate levels in synergy with photodynamic therapy for cancer treatmentAsian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2025
- Dual-responsive nanoparticles with transformable shape and reversible charge for amplified chemo-photodynamic therapy of breast cancerActa Pharmaceutica Sinica B, 2022
- Recent Advances in AIEgen‐Based Photodynamic Therapy and ImmunotherapyAdvanced Healthcare Materials, 2021
- A Cyanine-based Liposomal Nanophotosensitizer for Enhanced Cancer Chemo-Photodynamic TherapyChemical Research in Chinese Universities, 2021
- Catalase-based liposomal for reversing immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and enhanced cancer chemo-photodynamic therapyBiomaterials, 2020
- Sequentially self-assembled polysaccharide-based nanocomplexes for combined chemotherapy and photodynamic therapy of breast cancerCarbohydrate Polymers, 2019
- Nanoscaled red blood cells facilitate breast cancer treatment by combining photothermal/photodynamic therapy and chemotherapyBiomaterials, 2018
- Mild photothermal therapy/photodynamic therapy/chemotherapy of breast cancer by Lyp-1 modified Docetaxel/IR820 Co-loaded micellesBiomaterials, 2016
- An evaluation of photodynamic therapy in the management of cutaneous metastases of breast cancerEuropean Journal of Cancer, 1993